Let´s start with population: these five countries represent nearly 43% of the global population. But while the category "BRICS" clusters these countries as a single group, it is also worth noticing sharp intra-BRICS contrasts in terms of population, most dramatically between China and South Africa.
BNDES is the Brazilian Development Bank. Bigger than the World Bank, BNDES is one of the largest development banks in the world (after the Chinese Development Bank which boasts assets of around $1.2 trillion).
Around half of its infrastructure disbursement goes to transport sector. In July 2014, shortly after the BRICS summit, BNDES signed a agreement China’s financial institutions. (See our Summary Note).
The carbon footprint of the BRICS is growing as the economies and populations of these 5 countries grow reaching about 37% of the total emissions. The largest country in terms of population and emissions is China.
This infographic shows BRICS from an unusual perspective: water.
Again, notice the intra BRICS disparity in terms of the forest resources.